GB2275322A

GB2275322A - Dual purpose mine

Info

Publication number: GB2275322A
Application number: GB8908327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf Korver; Klaus Lindstadt
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1988-05-20
Filing date: 1989-04-13
Publication date: 1994-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-13
Also published as: GB2275322B; FR2699266A1; FR2699266B1; DE3817263C1; GB8908327D0

Abstract

The searching ignition mine (11) has a target object approach sensor (30) to start a drive unit and an aerodynamic device for braked rotating descent of its search igniter sub-munition (12) in the target area (15). When the target object is located the igniter (51) controls a projectile-forming charge (31). As target object approach sensor (30) the search ignition sensor (19) itself is provided, and is equipped with a beam guide effective before the start of the drive unit. The mine is also provided with a discriminator changeover device (55), which dependent upon the approaching target object - a tank or a helicopter - can be switched to igniters for firing an explosive compact projectile in the case of a land target or a shrapnel spreading projectile in the case of an aerial target. USE/ADVANTAGE - For military applications, searching ignition mine. Mine can discriminate between aerial and land targets and fire specific projectiles accordingly.

Description

2275322 A SEEKER-FUZE MINE The invention relates to a mine in accordance

with the definition of the species of claim 1 and more especially to such a mine having a sensor in accordance with claim 2.

A mine of the type in accordance with the species is known from GB-OS 2 174 482. A typical seeker-fuze mechanism and its effect in munition technology respects are described in more detail for instance in US-PS 4 587 902, in the journal WEHRTECHNIK 9/86, page 47, bottom left, or in the journal DEFENSE ELECTRONICS, June 1985, page 49.

The problem underlying the invention is to further develop a prohibition weapon of the type in accordance with the species for a wider spectrum of use. In this respect what is more especially had in mind is the fact that the threat on the battlefield in future not only emanates from armoured combat vehicles, but will multiply through the use of armed and lightly armoured combat helicopters, which become particularly dangerous opponents of land troops. The previously available defence means against this future thread appear, however, not only inadequate as such, but the provision of additional defensive means to the existing ground- tied prohibition means also throws up considerable logistical problems.

2 The above-mentioned problem is substantially solved, in accordance with the invention, in that the seeker-fuze munition developed in itself for combatting armoured vehicles - and delivered as submunition from a carrier projectile or from a mine-shaped launching apparatus - is now used in the same way for combatting armoured vehicles as also for combatting combat helicopters hovering or attacking at a low height. In this respect it is taken into consideration that, on account of the greater mobility of a helicopter, the probability of a direct hit with a compact projectile is less than when attacking an armoured vehicle; whilst on the other hand the probability of a hit and also the ef fect in the target becomes sufficiently great if when combatting a helicopter by means of the warhead insert it is not a compact projectile, but a sheaf cone of splinters consisting of relatively few large heavy-metal particles which is fired. This can, as described in DE-OS 36 25 967. take place by means of the identical construction of the warhead with a projectile-forming insert in front of its charge, by in the conventional manner a central initiation for the explosive transformation of the insert into the projectile being effected, but an eccentric initiation (in the appropriate circumstances a superimposition of the effect of several eccentric firing pellets, in order to disintegrate the insert into several splinter-shaped projectiles.

The corresponding fuze pre-setting is effected in 3 accordance with the detection result of a proximity sensor, which is activated by an alarm sensor when a potential target object approaches the position of the mine. In this respect use is made of the f act that both with optronic means (DE-PS 28 51 205) and in the millimetre-wave spectrum (DE-OS 32 33 327) with justifiable signal -process ing- technology expenditure a really unequivocal identification of a detected potential target object as a helicopter, by reason of the characteristic beat of the rotor blades in the case of the helicopter operating low over the target area, is possible.

The seeker-fuze submunition preferably usable within 15 the framework of the present mine is equipped with a concentrically installed millimetrewave seeker fuze which is directed in the effective direction of the munition. This therefore watches in a relatively sharply-bunched manner the air space in the axis above the positioning of the mine. Thus it would not at all detect an approaching combat tank pre- announced by the alarm sensor and would detect a helicopter only at the instant of overflight, and thus too late for an effective combatting by means of the submunition first to be delivered into the air space above the target area. In order, nevertheless, not to have to realise an additional proximity sensor which is initiated by the alarm sensor and which, upon entry of an object identified as to be combatted into the effective region of the mine, is to ignite a propelling charge for the 4 launching of the submunition, up to the launching of the submunition the beam path of the seeker-fuze sensor above the mine is deflected into an azimuth scanning. In this way the same seeker-fuze sensor including the target- detector- and distance- signal processing can be used prior to the launch of the submunition as a proximity sensor and after that upon the decelerated circling descent into the target area can be used as a seeker- fuze sensor. This double usability of the seeker-fuze equipment now as a proximity sensor and now as a detonation sensor is to be considered as worthy of protection also independently of whether this proximity sensor undertakes a target-class-dependent change-over for the detonation of the warhead, or does not.

Additional alternatives and further developments as well as further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the further claims and, also taking into account what is set forth in the abstract, from the following description of a preferred example of realisation and use with regard to the solution in accordance with the invention which is shown in a severely abstracted manner in the drawings along with a restriction to that which is essential.

Fig. 1 shows a submunition seeker-fuze mine in the readiness position, Fig. 2 shows the detection of a combat helicopter hovering at a slight height above the target area and the launch of the submunition mine, Fig. 3 shows the descent and search phase of the 5 submunition mine delivered over the target area in accordance with Fig 2, and Fig. 4 shows the combatting of the target object which has entered the search radius by means of a projectile-forming warhead coating, which in the case of an aerial target object is combatted with heavy-metal splinters which arises upon multiply induced detonation of the warhead.

The mine 11 shown in axial longitudinal section in Fig. 1 has substantially a seeker-fuze submunition 12 of the HABIGHT type explained at the beginning hereof. The mine 11 rests with a substantially hollowcylindrical stand housing 13 on a base plate 14 in the prohibition or target area 15. It can be installed there manually or be delivered by air. More especially in the latter case the mine 11 is advantageously covered upwardly by an arched protective cap 16, which prevents the mine 11 from possibly accidentally coming to rest with the rear (base plate 14) upwards into the target area 15. As is generally known in the case of aerially delivered mines (see e.g. GB-PS 13 94 425), hinged to the base plate 14 or respectively to the lower region of the stand housing 13 6 advantageously by way of a torque hinge 18 (for example a spiral spring) are uprighting limbs 17 which upon ground impact are released out of the rest position parallel to the stand housing 13 and set upright a mine 11 lying f or instance on the side wall into the approximately vertical effective position shown in the drawings.

The seeker-fuze sensor equipment, consisting of at least one sensor 19 and the signal processing 20, of the mine submunition 12 is thus directed substantially vertically upwards in the operational position of the mine 11. Arranged thereabove is a deflection mechanism 21 for the electromagnetic radiation spectrum to which the sensor 19 responds. So that this deflection mechanism 21 is protected, upon an aerial delivery of the mine 11, against impact shocks in the target area 15, it is advantageously arranged on a holder 22 arranged so as to be displaceable telescopically axially in front of the submunition 12 and during the mine delivery is still situated under the protective cap 16. A force element 23, for instance a spring-force store, is triggered when the mine 11 is positioned in the target area 15, for instance released by the folding-out of the supporting limbs 17. In this way the telescopic holder for the beam deflection mechanism 21 is Pushed axially forwards and the protective cap 16 is jettisoned. The now released deflection mechanism 21 can be swung by an adjusting member 24, for instance a torsion spring, about a swivel axis 25 out of the delivery position directed transversely to the longitudinal axis 26 7 of the mine into the readiness position inclined thereagainst (see below).

The mine 11 is equipped with at least one waking sensor 27, which responds to the movement of a potential target object in the vicinity of the target area 15. In the case of such target objects that are to be combatted by means of the mine 11 it is a matter more especially of armoured land vehicles and of low-flying aircraft (combat helicopters), which in movement (thus upon ground travel or respectively upon hovering) radiate a typical noise spectrum of large volume. In the case of the alarm sensors 27 it is a matter therefore preferably of vibration sensors, which respond to sound transmitted through solids (transmitted as seismic vibrations through the ground of the target area 15) or to sound transmitted through the air.

These alarm sensors 27 and a signal-processing mechanism 28 fed by these are operated from a long-term energy source 29, which is installed close above the base plate 14 in the stand housing 13 and through its weight by reason of centre-of-gravity displacement downwards further promotes the stability of the mine 11 uprighted in ready- to-operate manner.

If the alarm sensor 27.1 for sound transmitted through solids or the alarm sensor 27.2 for sound transmitted through the air responds, thus with high 8 probability a target object that is to be combatted is moving in the effective region of the mine 11, by the signal -processing mechanism 28 a proximity sensor 30 is activated, which undertakes a simple target classification for the target-object confirmation and more especially still delays the triggering of the mine 11 until the target object has approached to a distance which yields with great probability an effective target combatting. The directional resolution of the vibration alarm sensors 27 is not adequate for this; apart from the problems of being able to undertake, without knowledge of a reference range and solely from the variation of a signal level radiated by the target, a sufficiently reliable range determination. Therefore an active sensor, thus one working in the directional reflection location method, is preferred as the proximity sensor 30.

Basically an optronic proximity sensor, for instance on the basis of a laser range finder, could be used as the active proximity sensor 30. Since, however, the mine 11 is not raised considerably above the ground of the target area 15, for atmospheric reasons and by reason of the neighbourhood ground vegetation as a rule a promising use of an optronic proximity sensor 30 is not to be expected.

On the other hand, even under these unfavourable environmental factors a proximity sensor 30 working in the millimetre spectrum (radar) is very functional.

A seeker-fuze submunition 12 of the type taken into 9 consideration for the present mine 11 is already equipped with a millimetre-wave sensor 19, directed concentrically in the effective direction of the warhead, for the initiation of the warhead charge 31 upon acquisition of a s target object that is to be combatted. Thus, in the readiness position 11 of the mine this is directed oriented substantially vertically upwards in accordance with its longitudinal axis 26. This it is to this extent not suitable as a proximity sensor 30 for a target object lo standing abreast on the ground or close above the target area 15.

In order, however, not to have to install a further radar proximity sensor directed transversely to the mine longitudinal axis 26, recourse is had to the millimetrewave sensor 19 which exists anyway for the later seekerfuze function and the in itself coaxial location direction 32 of which is now by means of the deflection mechanism 21 arranged thereabove, thus for example a metallic mirror surface 33, diverted transversely, in order to cover the lateral surroundings.

For a panoramic coverage of the surroundings by means of the proximity sensor 30 this deflection mechanism 21 is rotated relative to the seeker-fuze sensor equipment 19-20 about the longitudinal axis 26 thereof. The rotary motion for the panoramic swivelling of the effective direction of the proximity sensor 30 is advantageously effected by means of a rotary motor 34 which is installed above the base plate 14 and which is operated by the neighbouring energy source 29 and is started up by the alarm signalprocessing mechanism 28. In the depicted exemplified embodiment in accordance with Fig. 1 the rotary motor 34 arranged stationarily on the base plate 14 moves, by way of a spur gearing 35, a hollow cylinder 36 which surrounds in a jacket-shaped manner the stand housing 13 and the submunition 12 positioned thereabove and which carries in the region of its upwardly directed aperture 37 in a torsionally rigid manner the deflection holder 22.

Basically the rotary motor 34 could indeed also be arranged in the region of this aperture 37, in order to rotate the holder 22 relative to the hollow cylinder 36.

This would of course dictate, for the most vibration-free possible rotarymotion guidance, greater constructional expenditure than the rotary motion introduced into the elongate hollow cylinder 36; and the arrangement of a motor and of the motion guide in front of the submunition 12 could hinder the launch thereof from the base plate 14 (see Fig. 2).

In order, in the interests of a good ratio of useful signal to spurious signal, to be able to work with the severest possible bunching of the radiated microwave energy and, nevertheless, to sweep a sufficiently high sector above the target area, it is advantageous to equip the deflection mechanism 21 with a pendulum drive 38, for instance with a motor which is coupled-up eccentrically, 11 which swivels the mirror surface 33 nonsynchronised with the rotary motion of the deflection holder 22 by a constructionally predetermined angle about the axis 25. In this way, in the course of the panoramic search also an angle of elevation is scanned and it is thus ensured that also helicopters 39 (Fig. 2) hovering relatively low above the target area 15 are detected by the beam 40 of the proximity sensor 30, as illustrated in Fig. 2 by the crossed motion arrows.

Upon detection of a target object to be combatted (helicopter 39 in Fig. 2) by means of the proximity sensor 30 a propelling composition (Fig. 1) arranged between the base plate 14 and the submunition 12 in the stand housing 13 is ignited by the signal processing 20. In this way the submunition 12 is coaxially accelerated relative to the stand housing 13 and to the hollow cylinder 36 and, for example by means of a supporting ring 42, the deflection holder 22 is jettisoned. For the removal of the deflection holder 22 with the mirror surface 33, instead or additionally also by means of an explosive charge a predetermined breaking point towards the hollow cylinder can be separated, so that the submunition 12 upon exit from the hollow cylinder 36 experiences the least possible departure disturbance. If necessary the seekerfuze sensor 19 is faired and protected in a flowfavourable manner by a ballistic cap 44, which is jettisoned at the zenith of the trajectory curve 45 when the submunition 12 under the influence of a braking 12 parachute 46 reverses in its spatial orientation (Fig. 3). Such a ballistic cap can, however, also be replaced (as taken into account in Fig. 1) by a closed- f rustoconical holder 47 for the subref lector 48 in front of the main 5 reflector 49 of a Cassegrain beam geometry of the seekerfuze millimetre-wave sensor 19, The submunition 12 delivered into the air space above the target area 15 with the target object to be combatted detected therein descends, with the location and effective direction 32 inclined towards the vertical 50, rotatingly into the target area 15, which is in this respect scanned spirally by the seeker-fuze sensor 19. If, in the location and effective direction 32, a target object, for instance a helicopter 39, is detected, the seeker-fuse signal processing 20 detonates the warhead charge 31 with the proj ectile- forming insert 54 made of iron or heavy metal, preferably tantalum, arranged in front thereof.

The seeker-fuze signal processing 32 controls a central fuze 51.3, if it is a matter in the case of the target object of an armoured vehicle 52 which is thus combatted from above by means of an explosive-shaped mass rich projectile of high penetrating power (Fig. 3).

If the seeker-fuze sensor 19, on the other hand, detects as the target object to be combatted a helicopter 39 floating (hovering) at a relatively low height above the target area 15, by the sensor signal processing 20, 13 instead of the central fuze 31.43 or in addition thereto, eccentric fuzes 51.4, 51.5 are controlled - with which preferably differently dimensioned booster charges 53.4, 53.5 are associated. From this there results a disintegration of the insert 54 that is to be fired into a number of heavy-metal splinters 55, the kinetic energy of which is at any rate sufficient for lasting damage of flying apparatus.

For the control of a change-over switch 55 for the selection of the various fuzes 51 from the seeker-fuze signal processing 20 a target classification is undertaken by means of the radar proximity sensor 30 and/or of a further sensor (for instance of an acoustic or an infra- red sensor, not taken into account in the drawings), which is based on the significant differences in the radiation or reflection properties on the one hand of a compact armoured vehicle on the ground and on the other hand on the beat of rotor blades of a helicopter 39 hovering above 2 0 the ground.

Claims

14 PATENT CLAIMS

1. A seeker-fuze mine (11) with a target-object proximity sensor (30) for the starting-up of a lift propelling charge (41) and with an aerodynamic mechanism for the decelerated rotating descent of its seeker-fuze submunition (12) into a target area (15), which is scanned for instance spirally by its seeker- fuze equipment (1920), which, upon acquisition of the target object that is to be combatted, controls the fuze (51) of a projectileforming charge (31), characterised in that a discriminator change-over mechanism (55) is provided, which as a function of the approaching target object (armoured vehicle 52; helicopter 39) is equipped with fuzes (51) for firing a compact projectile, explosively-shaped from a warhead insert (54), against land targets or else a cone of splinters against an aerial target.

2. A seeker-fuze mine (11), more especially according to claim 1, with a seeker-fuze sensor (29) directed straight ahead in the effective direction (32), characterised in that a beam deflector for operation of the seeker-fuze sensor (19) as a target-object proximity sensor (30) is provided in front of the seeker-fuze sensor (19).

3. A mine according to claim 2, characterised in that a rotating deflection mechanism (21) is provided.

4. A mine according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that a swivellable deflection mechanism (21) is provided.

5. A mine according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the deflection mechanism (21) is equipped with a 5 holder (22) which is telescopable in the sensor direction (32).

6. A mine according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the deflection mechanism (21) is arranged in a torsionally fast manner on a hollow cylinder (36) which surrounds the submunition (12) and which is rotatable relative to this.

7. A mine according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the deflection mechanism (21) is held by the submunition (12) so as to be jettisonable.

8. A mine according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is equipped with at least one alarm sensor (27) for putting the proximity sensor (30) into operation.

9. A mine according to claim 8, characterised in that the alarm sensor starts up a motor (34) for the rotary drive of a deflection mechanism (21), which deflects the location direction (32) of the seeker-fuze sensor (19) into an approach search beam (40).

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A seeker-fuze mine comprising a target-object proximity sensor for the starting-up of a lift propelling charge and an aerodynamic mechanism for the decelerated rotating descent of its seeker-fuze submunition above a target area to be scanned substantially spirally by seeker-fuze equipment of the submunition, which equipment, upon acquisition of a target object that is to be combatted, controls the firing of a warhead charge of the submunition; wherein said equipment has a discriminator change-over device which discriminates between different types of approaching target object to selectively control fuzes for firing the warhead charge either to f ire a compact projectile, explosively-shaped from a warhead insert, against a land target, or to fragment the insert into a cone of splinters fired against an aerial target.

2. A mine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the seeker fuze equipment comprises a seeker-fuze sensor directed straight ahead in the axial direction of the submunition, and a beam deflector is provided in front of the seeker-fuze sensor, for operation of the seeker-fuze sensor as a target-object proximity sensor.

3. -- A mine as claimed in claim 2, wherein a mechanism is provided for rotating the beam deflector.

4. A mine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, whereina 14- mechanism is provided for swivelling the beam deflector.

5. A mine as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein in that the beam deflector is carried by a holder' whichis telescopically retractable towards the sensor.

6. A mine as claimed in any one of claims. 2 to 5, wherein the mechanism for rotating the deflector comprises a hollow cylinder of which surrounds and is rotatable relative to the submunition, which cylinder is connected in a torsionally fast manner to the deflector.

7. A mine as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the deflector is held by the submunition so as to be jettisonable.

8. A mine as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one alarm sensor for putting the sensor into operation.

9. A mine as claimed in claim 1, wherein an alarm sensor starts up a motor for the rotary drive of a def lection mechanism, which deflects the location direction of the seeker-fuze sensor into an approach search beam prior to starting up of the lift-propelling charge.

10. A seeker-fuze mine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.